8/28/2014 - Summer Weather can Reduce Output of Headlights

Thanks to the increased amount of sunlight that the summer days provide, motorists don't have to utilize their headlights quite as much as they would in the winter. However, it's this time of year that headlights are more at risk for losing their luster, according to one of the nation's leading lighting companies.

While all headlights lose their brilliance over time, they're particularly at risk for diminished capacity during the summer months due to high humidity in the atmosphere. This, along with filament fatigues and electrical resistance, reduces light output, limiting drivers from seeing the road in the most optimal way, Philips noted.

The best way to prevent this from happening is to address headlight issues before they become apparent.

"Driving with headlights that have become clouded over time leaves drivers vulnerable to risky driving conditions," said Marie Hines, senior marketing manager for Philips Automotive. "These dim headlights function improperly for drivers, limiting the amount of light on the road, and actually dramatically increase the glare that other drivers see."

She added that a good rule of thumb is to replace headlights every two years, or even sooner if headlights appear dimmer than normal.

Though car accidents, and the accompanying auto insurance claims, occur at all hours of the day, they're particularly common at night. Numbers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveal that the crash rate of 16- to 19-year-old drivers is four times higher in the evening hours than during the daytime.

For more information on auto insurance, speak to a local Selective agent.